Histopathological Effects of Therapeutic Doses of Combined XO-Inhibitors and ACE-Inhibitors on the Expression of VEGF-A in the Myocardium and Renal Cortex in Chronic Hypertensive Albino Rats

BackgroundHypertension is risk factor for development of congestive heart failure. The pathogenesis of myocardial and renal cortex changes in hypertension includes structural remodeling and fibrosis.\n\nAim of studyis to evaluate the effects of therapeutic doses of combined XO-Inhibitors and ACE-Inhibitors on expression of VEGF-A in the myocardium and renal cortex in chronic hypertensive albino rats.\n\nMaterial & MethodsThirty male albino rats were divided into: Group I: (control group), Group II (Non-treated Hypertensive rats), Group III (Allopurinol-treated Hypertensive rats), Group IV (Captopril-treated Hypertensive rats) and Group V (Allopurinol-Captopril-treated Hypertensive rats). At 4 and 8 weeks, the rats were anesthetized followed by obtaining of heart and left kidney to be stained with Masson trichrome and Anti-Vascular endothelial growth factor-A antibody.\n\nResultsGroup II, one month hypertensive rats showed, myocardium showed disarray with significant increase in interstitial fibrosis. The renal cortex showed evidences indicating glomerulosclerosis. Immunohistochemistry, there was high significant decrease in the number of cells of renal cortex with +ve expression of VEGF-A. Later, they showed marked significant increase in interstitial fibrosis. In Group III, myocardium and renal cortex showed high significant increase in interstitial fibrosis. After two month, there were high significant decrease in the surface area of interstitial fibrosis in myocardium and renal cortex with high significant decrease number of the myocardium with +ve expression of VEGaF-A. In Group IV, myocardium showed disarray with marked significant reduction in interstitial fibrosis. The renal cortex showed marked significant reduction in the interstitial fibrosis with significant decrease in the number of cells with +ve expression of VEGF-A. Later, myocardium showed the most high marked significant reduction in interstitial fibrosis with highly significant increase in number of cells with positive expression of VEGF-A. In Group V after two month, both myocardium and renal cortex showed nearly normal architecture with marked significant reduction in interstitial fibrosis.\n\nConclusionsLong term therapy with the combination between allopurinol and captopril decreases the fibrotic changes associated with hypertension and enhances the process of angiogenesis.